Automatic system for supplying alkali and detergent to commercial laundry washing machines



Dec. 8, 1964 H. A. HAMBRO 3,160,317 AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYINGALKALI AND DETERGENT TO COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov.6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 TANK FILLING I a CONNECTIONS I l v 1 '1 1 ea M"1 q DETERGENT ALKALI SILICATE CAUSTlC MIX -7|"- 3 I I PUMP z"! 58 I V 4METER WATERSUPPLY 6E METER v 1 a 4/ 39 MANUAL FILLING LINES AUTOMATIC 4040 40 DISPENSERS 36 35' i313 l a;

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AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING ALKALI AND DETERGENT T0 COMMERCIALLAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 1962 5 SheetsSheet 2 DETERGE T Il I CAUSTIC PUMP I WATER SUPPLY by Ma 0.

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AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING ALKALI AND DETERGENT TO COMMERCIALLAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WHEEL Dec.8, 1964 H. A. HAMBRO 3,160,317

AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING ALKALI AND DETERGENT TO COMMERCIALLAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 AIR 8/ asea se 69 1320832203": flea beau? ulflcmzfwo, by Q m/iwm Dec. 8, 1964 H.A. HAMBRO 3,160,317

AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING ALKALI AND DETERGENT T0 COMMERCIALLAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SERVICEDISCONNECT 1219.6. SWITCH CIRCUIT BREAKER DISTRIBUTION PANEL DISOONNEGSCONNEOT SWITCH SWITCH MOTOR MOTOR STARTING STARTING SWITCH SW ITOH EMOTOR MOTOR -L STARTING STARTING fi Lg a fi] E SWITCH SWITCH FLOAT 1WATER I SWITCH I METER \CONTACTOR/ l ALKALH {cAus'ncH SILICATE| I H PUMPI PUMP by W.

fltfozney AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING ALKALI AND DETERGENT TCOMMERCIAL LAUNDRY WASHING MAQHINES Herbert A. Hambro, Milton, Mass,assignor to The Veritas Company, Inc., Medway, Mass, a corporation ofMassachusetts 7 Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 235,641 Claims. (Cl. 222

This invention relates to a method of automatically feeding cleansingingredients to the washing machines or wash Wheels of industriallaundries, and pertains more particularly to a novel method ofdelivering liquid ingredients or supplies, in controllable proportions,from storage tanks directly to the Wash wheels.

,The supplies or ingredients are those customarily used by industrial orcommercial laundries, namely, an alkali such as caustic soda mixed witha silicate, such as sodium silicate, and a non-ionic or anionicdetergent, but these ingredients are stored and delivered as liquidsrather than as powders.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a completelyautomatic monitored system for feeding the supplies, in the desiredquantities and proportions, from relatively large storage tanks whichmay be conveniently filled from tank trucks, directly to the wash wheelsin the 7 Wash room, after first mining the alkali and silicate in aseparate tank or compartment'and then delivering that alkali mix and theconcentrated detergent through separate supply lines to the wash wheel.p

More specifically, the objects of this invention are to lower supplycosts and save washing time by using liquid alkali which is lessexpensive than powdered alkali in the quantities required, and byaccurately controlling the vol-. ume of each of the liquid ingredientsaccording to the desired washing formula; to lower production expense byeliminating manual handling, measuring and waste of con ventionalpowdered ingredients, and by shortening'the washing cycle inasmuch as'notime need be allowed for dissolving powders, thereby 3 lesseningmechanical wear and extending the life of the washed garments; and topermit the essential controls of the system to be operated bylwell knowntypes of sequence timers which have heretofore been customarily used incircuit breaker distribution panels, to control the timing of theWashing cycle of a battery of wash wheels in industrial laundries.

"Further advantagesof the automatic supply system will become apparentfrom the following description oi the'improvcd method, asdiagrammatically illustrated bn system in which the'alkali or causticingredient'an'd the silicate ingredient are "combined and mixed withwater, and then delivered to the alkali mix storage tanks;

FIG. 3 is a detaileddiagram of the piping system for supplying thealkali'mix to the Wash wheels; the piping. system for supplying thedetergent being essentially similar thereto; v

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a compressed air piping system for servicingair-operated control valves in the liquid supply systems; and p FIG. 5is a diagram of the electric control system for regulating thecaustic-silicate mix and the supply of the detergent and alkali mix tothe wash wheels.

In accordance with the method of this invention, the basic liquidingredients are stored in large-sized vented tanks (or a singlecompartmented tank) providing reserp ice voirs for detergent, alkalimix, silicate and caustic; such tanks preferably ,being so located thatthe three storage reservoirs for the basic ingredients may be filledfrom tank delivery trucks, and that the detergent and the alkali mix maybe conveniently pumped to the dispensers in the. wash room, throughseparate supply lines, as indicated in FIG; 1 and FIG. 3.

The liquid silicate and caustic are piped from their respectivereservoirs to prop'ortioning pumps, labeled silicate pump and'causticpump in FIG: 2; these pumps being of wellknown and commonly used types,such as those sold under the trade name Proportioneers Treet-O-Unit andoperated by compressed air. The respective pumps may be adjustedtosupply any desired ratio of caustic soda and silicate, to produce amixture ranging from sodium meta associated with 'a solenoid controlledregulating valve '18;

thence to a hydraulic valve 19 and through another check valve 20, tothe connections fromthe respective propor tioning pumps; and thence pasta pressure gauge 21,

through strainers, to a mixing chamber 22 (FIG. '1) and to the alkalimix reservoir. Said reservoir is provided with afloat 23 (FIG. 1) foractuating a float switch 24 (FIG. 2) in said chamben'which automaticallystops the operation of the alkali combining system-when the mixreservoir is filled to a predetermined level.

The float switch, the control meter andits said solenoid valve,andrsolenoid valves of the respective proportioning pumps are in circuitwith each other and with a distribution panel, as indicated at the lefthand portion of the schematicwiring diagram of FIG. 5. That circuit mayalso include'an electronic conductivity meter for registering thealkalinity, of the alkalirnix, and 'an alkali level alarm, as indicated.The circuit breaker distributor panel of FIG. 5, may bea standard typeof sequence timer heretofore used in controlling the successiveoperations of washing, rinsing and spin-drying in commercial clotheswashing machines, in predetermined sequence--with such additionalcontacts as may be needed for programming the alkali mix and detergentsupply systems also indicated in FIG. 5 and described below.

As indicated generally iniFlG. l, concentratedliquid detergent is fedfrom the detergent reservoir by either of the alternate pumps 31,- 32,toheader pipe 33 for a series of automatic dispensers 34 fora battery ofwashers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, or optionally through a meter 35 to aheader pipe 36 for: manual-controlled" supply to the i same battery ofwash wheels. V 7

Similarly, liquid alkali is pumped from the alkali'mix reservoir bypump?! or pump 38 to a header pipe 39 for a'series of automaticdispensers 40 for the battery of wash wheels, or"o ptionally througha'meter'l to aheaderpipe 42 for manual feeding to the wash wheels. Theautomatic dispensers for detergent and alkali are arranged to befilledto capacity and then to be disalkali mix reservoir to therespective pumps 37 and 38" 3,160,317 Patented Dec. 8, 1 964 arepreferably equipped with gate valves 45 for manual shut-down whenneeded, and with pressure gauges 46; and the pumps are associated withmotors 47 and 48, respectively, actuated by solenoid switches 49 and 50in the control circuit of FIG. 5. The extra pump is preferably providedfor standby purposes, in the event that matic dispensers are filled andthe check ,valves in the supply lines are closed. Pressure gauges 61 maybe connected in the outlets of said pumps.

Supply pipe 53 leads to the header pipes 39 and 42, as aforesaid, andthesupply line may have a pressure gauge 62 and a pressure switch 63.Manual valves are preferably provided, as indicated, in the lines to therespective header pipes, so that the system may be regulated forautomatic or for manual feeding of the alkali mix to the washers; andthe header 42 has the aforesaid meter 41 and, preferably, a strainer 64.

Each automatic dispenser 40 is filled from header 39 by a separatesupply line 65 having gate and check valves 66 and 67; and each, afterbeing. filled, discharges to an individual wash wheel, through a reliefvalve 68 and a transparent plastic pipe section 69. The filling anddischarge of dispenser 40 is controlled by athree way air valve 70 (FIG.4) which is actuated by the electrical control system of the sequencetimer.

The supply system for the concentrated gent is essentially the same asthat just described in connection with the alkali mix supply system ofFIG. 3, which shows in broken lines the connection of the automaticdetergent dispenser 34 of FIG. 1 to the supply line 65 leading to theindividual wash wheel. As previously explained, the detergent and alkaliarenot mixed together until the mixture is to be discharged into therespective wash wheels, thereby avoidingchemica-l breakdown of thosesupplies which would be likely to result upon standing intermixed in asupply line.

' The detergent dispenser 34 is also controlled by a A three-way,air-operatedvalve 75 (FIG. 4) actuated by the electrical control system;and it will be understood that the air valves 70 and 75 regulate thefilling, discharge and refilling of the automatic dispensers in timedsequence, and that the alkali dispenser and detergent dispenser, foreach wash wheel, are actuated simultaneously or separately, as desiredand programmed.

The piping for the air pressure system for operating the diaphragmvalves of the automatic supply system and the optional manual supplysystem of the liquid ingredients for the washer is d-iagnamrned in FIG.4.

liquid deterfeeding excess alkali back to the reservoir when'the auto-'w The supply of compressed air enters apipe 81 equipped I with gatevalves 82 and a strainer 83, and having a branch line 84 leading througha globe valve 85 to a relief valve 86, and another branch line 87leading through a reducing valve 88 and a globe valve 89 back to mainline 81 near an adjustable pressure:valve;,90

having a gauge 91. The air line then branches to the air valves 76 and75 of the respective automatic dispensers 40 and 34 for each wash wheel,and to the manu- I ally actuated air valves 73 and 9 2 for regulatingthe supply of alkali and detergent respectively by hand. It

will be understood that air valve 92 would be operated by a separatepush button 93. c r

It will be understood that the electric circuits diaa grammed in 'FIG. 5.are controlled by conventional switches on a monitoring panel, theoperation of the sequence timer being regulated by a conventionalprogramin g chart. 6

The automatic flow system for supplying liquid ingredients to the washwheels of industrial laundries, as :herein disclosed, conveniently andefiiciently achieves the objectives of this invention, as previously setforth. Substantial economies are achieved with increased output in ashorter time period, by utilizing stored liquid alkali, automaticmeasuring controls which precisely regulate the washing formula, therebyeliminating manualmixing, spillage, and dangerto personnel. It hasbeenfound that seven loads of industrialwash may be washed, with uniformquality, by the use of this completely automatic method, in the timenormally required for six loads, per machine per day, thus increasingproductivity cate and caustic; pumping a mixture of a metered quan-vtity of water, a proportioned quantity of the liquid caustic and aproportioned quantity of the liquid sili- 'cate to said fourth separatereservoir, to provide an.

alkali mix; pumping the alkali from its reservoir through a flow line toa wash wheel area; pumping the concentrated detergent from its reservoirthrough a separate flow line to said wash wheel area; dispensing apredetermined quantity of'said alkali mix and said concentrateddetergent from said respective flow lines into said wash wheel; andelectrically controlling the operating of said pumping steps. 7

2. A method as described in claim 1, including the further step ofelectrically controlling the dispensing step in time sequence withrelation to the electrical control of said pumping steps. I p i 3. Amethod described in claim 2, including the further steps of pumping thealkalirnix and the detergent to separate refillable dispensers ofpredetermined capacity, separately dispensing the alkali and detergentfrom the dispensers to the washwheel, refilling said dispensers, andelectrically controlling the filling, dispensing and refilling of saiddispensers by said electrical controlling step. 7 I

4. A.method as described in claim 3, including the further step ofcontrolling the filling, dispensing and refilling of said dispensers byvalves regulated by said electrical controlling step and actuating saidvalves by compressed air. 7 V v 5. A method as described in claim 3,including the further step of providing alternative supply lines andmanuallycontrolled valves therefor for optionally dispensing the alkalimix and the detergent from said dispensers to said wash wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RAPHAEL M. LUPO,Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING CLEANSING INGREDIENTS TO THE WASHWHEELS OF AN INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRY, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF STORING ASILICATE, A CAUSTIC AND A CONCENTRATED DETERGENT, EACH IN LIQUID FORM,IN SEPARATE RESERVOIRS, FILLABLE FROM TANK TRUCKS; PROVIDING A FOURTHSEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR A MIXTURE OF THE SILICATE AND CAUSTIC; PUMPING AMIXTURE OF A METERED QUANTITY OF WATER, A PROPORTIONED QUANTITY OF THELIQUID CAUSTIC AND A PROPORTIONED QUANTITY OF THE LIQUID SILICATE TOSAID FOURTH SEPARATE RESERVOIR, TO PROVIDE AN ALKALI MIX; PUMPING THEALKALI MIX FROM ITS RESERVOIR THROUGH A FLOW LINE TO A WASH WHEEL AREA;PUMPING THE CONCENTRATED DETERGENT FROM ITS RESERVOIR THROUGH A SEPARATEFLOW LINE TO SAID WASH WHEEL AREA; DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITYOF SAID ALKALI MIX AND SAID CONCENTRATED DETERGENT FROM SAID RESPECTIVEFLOW LINES INTO SAID WASH WHEEL; AND ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLING THEOPERATING OF SAID PUMPING STEPS.